Combined chart-stand and easel



(No Model.)

H E. HOLT. COMBINED CHART STAND AND EASEL.

Patented Jan. 9, 1894.

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M :9 m m; 0 M N w a UNITED STATES,

PATENT rricn.

HOSEA E. HOLT, OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED CHART- STAND AND EASEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,471, dated January 9, 1894.

Application filed October 11,1893. Serial No. 487,885. (No model.)

.To all whom itmoty concern:

' Be it known that I, HOSEA E. HOLT, of Lexngton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in a Combined Chart-Stand and Easel, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. 7

This invention has for its object to provide a combined chart stand and easel constructed in a manner to permit it to be collapsed into a compact form for transportation and storage.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a suitable flanged body to which several legs are loosely connected above said flange, the same passing through radiating slots in said flange, said legs when not in use being closed or drawn together, but which for use may be spread apart in the slots by means of a suitable rotatable spreading device, to be described. The chart supports are preferably mounted in a suitable top-piece rotatably secured to the said body in order that the chart may be turned or revolved without disturbing the position of the legs of the stand.

The invention also comprehends an easelrest adapted to be readily applied'to and removed from the legs of the stand in order that the latter may serve the added purpose of an easel the said rest being so constructed that it may also be applied to the chart supports to provide a high rest for suitable purposes.

A'suitable clamping device or devices is or are provided by which'to secure the spreading device and rotatable chart-carrying top against movement from their adjusted positions.

The above features, together with less important ones will be more fully hereinafter described and/pointedout in the claims.

- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of stand embodying my invention, a portion of the easel rest being broken away to show the preferred form of fastening device by means of which the said rest is or may be attached to the easel legs.

spreading device, the legs being broken off;-

and Fig. 3 a vertical section taken on the dotted line x-a: Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in the particular embodiment of myinvention there shown, A, represents the body of the fixed body, the same as shown being provided with the top and bottom flanges a and a, the latter of which is larger in diameter than the former, and is also preferably formed in a gradual sweep or curve, as shown. The flange a, at the top of the body A andtherefore above the flange a is perforated to receive the upper ends of the legs I), 1), shown as four in number, said legs being inserted through the perforations provided therefor, and headed, as at b, see Fig.

3, a leather or other suitable cushion washer I) being preferably interposed between the said heads I) and the upper face of the flange a, to prevent the rattle or noise which would otherwise be caused by contact of metal with metal. Each of the legs I) is passed through a preferably radial slot at in the lower flange a of the body A, as best shown in Fig. 1.

A suitable spreading device by which to spread the legs of the stand, when desired, is located preferably at the under side of and concealed by the lower flange a, said device in the present instance, consisting of a cam plate 0 comprising several radiating arms 0', one arm for each leg, each arm having a curved or cam edge 0 adapted when the cam plate is rotated to act upon the -said legs and move the latter toward the outer ends or limits of the slots a thereby spreading the said legs and pressing or clamping the same against the ends of the slots to form a firm base for the stand. As herein shown, the cam plate is supported upon a thumb nut d threaded upon the lower end of arod '01, shown as cast in, but which may be otherwise secured to the body A. See Fig. 2. By screwing this thumb nut up, as in Fig. 3, the cam plate 0 may be pressed against the under side of the flange a with sufficient force to retain said supporting device against retrograde movement, the said thumb nut and screw thereby constituting a retaining device to lock the spreading device in its adjusted position. In the pres- Fig. 2 is an under side View of the head and ent construction the rod d is prolonged above the top of the bodyA to constitute a pivot for the top-piece E to which the chart support or supports is or are attached, the said top E, as herein shown, being provided with two sockets c to receive and hold the lower ends of the chart supportingrodsorsupports 6' shown as carried upwardly to a considerable distance and with their upper ends 6 turned over, as shown, to receive and hold the usual chart back. The top-piece E, as shown, is also provided with a downturned lip e which fits over and about the upper flange a, of the body A, the said lip thereby concealing the tops of the legs I), steadying the chart supports and presenting a neat and attractive appearance, a leather or other suitable cushion washer 6 being preferably interposed between the said top and the tops of the legs Z), as shown, to deaden the noise and constitute a yielding packing upon which the said top may be clamped against rotation byathumb nut e threaded upon the topmost end of the rod 6'.

Referring again to Fig. 1, F represents any usual or desired easel rest, the same being provided with suitable devices by which it may be readily attached to and detached from the legs or chart-supports of the stand. As.

herein shown the rest F is provided with a back f slotted at f to receive the adjustable hook-like fastening devices f provided with suitable thumb nuts f by which said hooks may be fixed in adjusted position in the slots through which they pass. It will be seen that each of the hooks f is peculiar, t. 6., each is provided with a hook facing inwardly and one facing outwardly, the inwardly facini, hooks being utilized when the rest is secured to the leg I) of the stand, while the outwardly facing hooks are utilized when said rest is applied to thechart supports, as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 1.

The operation of my improved stand is as follows, viz: Assuming the stand to be collapsed, t'. (2., with the spreading device a in its dotted position Fig. 2, the legs of the stand turned inwardly toward the common axis, and with the chart supports e removed from their sockets e, and with the easel rest F also removed, when it is desired to set up the stand in readiness for use, the operator, by means of the handle c protruding beyond and below the flange a, rotates the spreading device in the direction of the arrow Fig. 2, causing the cam edges 0 thereof to act upon the legs of the stand and move the latter from the inner ends of theslots a to the outer ends thereof, as shown in the drawings, one or more turns of the thumb nutd being then sufficient to clamp the spreading device against the flange a, with sufficient force to retain it in its adjusted position. The chart supports 6 are then inserted in the sockets e of the top E, and the standis in readiness to receive and hold any suitable chart. By loosening the thumb nut e above the top E, the latter may be rotated in either direction to enable the chart to be viewed from any point, the said top being clamped in any desired adjusted position by screwing down the said nut.

If it is desired to employ the stand as an easel, the operator places the rest F against the front legs of the stand at a point just below the flange a of the body A, and then moves the rest bodily downward until the inwardly turned hooks of the fastening device embrace and wedge upon the legs I), the greater separation of the hooks permitting the rest to be moved downward to a greater distance before becoming wedged upon the legs of the stand. If it is desired to employ the same or an additional rest above the body A, the rest is applied in similar manner to the chart supports e, except that the outwardly turned portions of the hooks are then used, the rest being placed against the chart supports near the tops of the latter and thereafter moved downwardly until the hooks become wedged in between and behind the said supports.

Instead of fourlegs, as herein shown, I may employ three, or, in fact, any number of legs.

The stand herein shown embodying this invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, occupies little room when collapsed, being thereby easily transported or carried about, is easily set up in position, and when so set up provides an exceedingly firm and unyielding support.

It will be noticed that each of the legs is held firmlyat two separated or distant points, viz:at the top and bottom flanges, said legs being therefore rendered so rigid that lateral vibration of the stand is reduced to a mini-v mum. Each cam surface 0 at its end adjacent the axis of the cam preferably terminates in a socket or recess 0 After the legs have been turned inwardly in collapsing the stand, the cam 0 may be given a further slight turn to carry these sockets into position inclosing or holding the legs, and thereby locking the latter against outward movement. The cam may be locked in this position in the same manner in which it is locked in its position with the legs spread. Should the radiating slots be simply contracted at their outer ends instead of completely closed, as shown, the resultant effect would be the same for the range of movement of the legs would still be limited.

This invention is notlimited to the particular construction herein shown to illustrate this invention, as it is evident the same may be varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of the in- Vention.

Having described one embodiment of my invention, and without reference to details, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a stand of the class described, a body provided with radiating slots closed at their outer ends, a plurality of legs attached to said body, and passing through said slots, and a spreading device to spread the legs in and clamp the same against the closed outer ends of said slots, substantially as described.

2. In a stand of the class described, a body provided with top and bottom flanges, a plurality of legs headed and dropped through openings in said top flange and passed through radiating slots in said bottom flange, a spreading device, and means to retain the same in adjusted position, substantially as described.

3. In a stand of the class described, abody provided with radiating slots, a plurality of legs loosely attached to said body and passing through said slots, a rotatable spreading device with cam surfaces 0 the central threaded rod d and clamp nut thereon, all to operate, substantially as described.

4. In a stand of the class described, a bod provided with a slotted flange, a plurality of legs loosely attachedto said body and passed through said slots, a rotatable spreading device beneath and concealed by said flange, an operating handle therefor projecting beyond the edge of said flange, and means to clamp the said spreading device in position substantially as described.

' 5. In a stand of the class described,a body, legs loosely connected thereto, and a spreading device for said legs, combined with a rotatable top, resting upon the upper end of said body, one or more removable chart supports carried thereby, and a clamping device to retain said top against rotation, substantially as described.

6. In a stand of the class described,.a body provided with a top flange a, legs passed through said flange, and a spreading device to spread the same, combined with a rotatable top provided with a down-turned lip surrounding and concealing said flange, and chartsupport receiving sockets in said head, substantially as described.

7. In a stand of the class described, a body, legs loosely connected thereto and provided with a spreading device,arotatable top mounted above the tops of said legs, cushions between said top and the ends of said legs, and between the latter and said body, and clampin g devices, all to operate, substantially as described.

8. In a stand of the class described, a body, legs loosely connected thereto, and a spreading device to spread the legs, combined with a rest, and hooks at the back of the latter to engage and wedge upon said legs, substantially as described.

9. In a stand of the class described, a body, legs loosely connected thereto, and a spreading device to spread the said legs, diverging chart supports carried at the top of said body, a rest and hooks at the back of the same to enable it to be applied to and wedged upon either said supports or legs at will, substantially as described.

10. In a stand of the class described,,a body, legs loosely connected thereto, and a spreading device to spread said legs, combined with a rest, and longitudinally adjustable hooks carried thereby to enable it to be applied to either of said legs at any desired level, substantially as described.

11. In a stand of the class described, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: the body, legs connected thereto, and a spreading device to spread the same, a rotatable top carrying chart-supporting devices, and the easel rest, and fastening devices to enable the same to be applied to said legs all constructed to operate, substantially as described.

12. In a stand of the class described, a body provided with radiating slots, a plurality of legs, loosely attached tosaid body and passing through and guided by said slots, a rotatable spreading device having cam surfaces 0 terminating adjacent the axis of the said device in recesses 0 whereby said legs may be locked in their inmost or collapsed positions, and a clamping device for saidspreading device, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOSEA E. HOLT.

Witnesses:

AUGUSTA E. DEAN, FREDERICK L. EMERY. 

